MSc - Information Security

"I received my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Crete in Greece. I’m now studying an MSc in Information Systems within Surrey’s Department of Computer Science.

"I’m passionate about developing software and have a real desire to see the managerial and theoretical side of computing. Deciding to come to Surrey to study Information Systems was a natural choice for me as it’s one of the best universities in the UK, and I thought that the Department’s research fields and range of modules will give me an edge over other candidates from other universities. I was a bit terrified at first at coming to a new country, but as I got to know my colleagues, who were wonderful, and with the warm welcome that I received from staff and lecturers, Surrey started to feel like home in no time.

"Some of my favourite modules include ‘Information Security Management’, ‘Challenges for Computing Professionals’ and ‘Project Management and Business Strategy’. The project management module enabled me to participate in the organisation and execution of a conference and I even got to meet an IBM project manager and chat with him, one-to-one.

"I’ve regular meetings with my supervisor regarding the progress of my dissertation. I’m extremely grateful for their availability, willingness to answer questions and also want to stress that it’s not just the supervisors who are good at communication – all lecturers within the Department are more than happy to chat and discuss the subject with you.

"As for the future, I could either take a PhD to progress in university teaching, or apply my knowledge within specific companies. I’m in a great position as Surrey has prepared me well for a career in academia or industry. Acting as the course’s representative also enabled me to represent my colleagues and improve my people skills."

One of the things I liked most about Surrey was the opportunity to talk and exchange ideas with lecturers, which really inspired me and helped me to succeed in my career.

I currently work for Cyprus Research and Innovation Center (CyRIC) and previously worked as a Software Developer at Qobo as part of a team that develops Cloud, Web and Android Applications, taking on tasks such as implementing web services that transmit information among systems or developing extensions on popular web platforms.

I would advise anyone who wants to develop their ability as a software developer to consider studying at Surrey.

The Masters course I took – MSc Internet Computing (now replaced by an updated course, MSc Information Computing) – helped me develop my programming skills rapidly across the most popular web frameworks such as Spring MVC and Django.

Demanding modules like Cloud Computing and Collective Intelligence really give you the opportunity to push your boundaries and advance your coding abilities.

The course enables you to get familiar with all the new technologies in the field, preparing you to face the challenges of a demanding working environment.

"My time at Surrey has enabled me to take on challenges more readily and improve my self-learning abilities."

"I am passionate about information security mainly because of how diverse it is, as it applies to every sector/industry. Irrespective of the nature of the business, information security is a neccessity as there is always a need to prevent unauthorised access, guarantee availability, and maintain confidentiality and privacy.

The urge to be part of the solution to the increasing problems of hacking, data theft, identity theft and other cyber-related threats in our society today, influenced my choice to study for a degree in information security.

Surrey was one of two schools I applied to for my course. After further research and recommendations from a few friends and family who all said Surrey was the better option I decided to come to Surrey, and I was not dissapointed.

I don’t think I could have had a better experience elsewhere than I did at Surrey. It has been a worthwhile and very rewarding experience.

Being one of the very few institutions in the country that are GCHQ certified to run the Information Security programme, Surrey is one of the best choices for anyone looking to enrol for an Information Security Masters. The lecturers are well-grounded in their respective fields and have industry affiliations and recognition.

I enjoy every part of my programme because it always gives me a sense of responsibility. I enjoy the practical aspects of my programmes, the especially on the Multimedia and Digital Forensics module I took, within which I had to use Digital Forensic tools to investigate a mock crime and produce exhibits.

The lecturers in Computer Science Department are very helpful and are always ready to offer assistance whenever you approach them. They are passionate about what they do and take time to make things clear to the students.

"My experience on placement has inspired me to seek out client-facing roles where I can interact with people on a daily basis and solve their problems."

Spending his Professional Training placement year with National Instruments (NI) has given Hashim Shamsi the opportunity not only to work closely with customers, but also to pursue his own creative technical project: a digital pedal which enables electric guitar players to create their own unique sound effects.

Working within the Applications Engineering department at NI, Hashim’s primary role was to provide customers with consultative advice on their applications, while he also had plenty of opportunities to go out and teach courses in NI software and hardware at other customer sites.

“I applied for the placement in the second semester of his first year, and was invited to attend an assessment centre.

I applied early, having been convinced during various talks at Surrey of the importance of doing an industrial placement year. It was the first assessment centre I’d attended and although I felt nervous on the morning of the interview, in reality the day was very relaxing and the people very welcoming.

During my placement, I developed broad technical skills relating not only to NI products but also to real world industrial applications – from industrial communications protocols to networking.

I also learnt how to better identify customer needs and manage customer expectations, and – by teaching customers about our software and hardware – I improved my communication and presentation skills. In fact as a result of my presentations over the year, NI has asked me to teach similar courses to students now that I’m back at Surrey.
My digital guitar pedal project was a significant achievement because it allowed me to develop my digital signal processing and programming skills while also pursuing one of my passions – playing the guitar.

Now back at Surrey, I have firm ideas about my future career. My experience on placement has inspired me to seek out client-facing roles where I can interact with people on a daily basis and solve their problems. Technology consulting springs to mind.

Industrial experience is really important when it comes to applying for graduate jobs. Because of the broad range of skills it enables you to develop, in some cases it can be that key thing that differentiates you from other applicants.”